Singtel brings back Future Makers with Optus and Globe to promote social innovation

Singtel has announced a partnership with Optus and Globe Telecom to collaborate on its social innovation program, Singtel Future Makers, which encourages start-ups and entrepreneurs to harness technology innovation in ways that positively impact society.

Singtel Future Makers 2017 follows the success of its inaugural launch last year, in which seven local social start-ups were selected in both Singapore and Australia from more than 150 applicants. They received mentoring and financial backing to scale up their ideas. The new program adds the Philippines into the mix, and will provide successful applicants with more than S$500,000 in cash grants and four months of business workshops, mentoring, and coaching support from industry experts.

Through the program, successful applicants will gain a unique opportunity to grow their organizational capabilities, refine their business models, and make a bigger social impact. The top participants from Singapore, Australia, and the Philippines with the potential to scale their solutions regionally will have the chance to participate in a regional tier of funding and a workshop for regional capability building.

“The fact that many social issues transcend geographical boundaries, makes it all the more important that we expand the Singtel Future Makers programme beyond Singapore, to give change makers with the most promising solutions the opportunity to scale regionally,” said Andrew Buay, Singtel’s Vice President of Group Sustainability.

Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s Senior chief sustainability officer and vice president for corporate communications said: “We recognise the impact of technology in addressing many social issues that the country is facing at the moment. By participating in the Singtel Future Makers programme, through Globe Future Makers, we help bring out the ecosystem of social innovators that are critical in turning the tide against various social issues like extreme poverty, malnutrition and lack of healthcare, limited access to education, and social discrimination.

Singtel Future Makers 2017 is open for applications from now until May 7. The program will commence in June and conclude with a regional pitch day in November 2017.

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